Randy Ray Richardson faces restraining order, bar complaint

Multnomah County Sheriff's Office has a restraining order to serve against Portland criminal defense lawyer Randy Ray Richardson, but the office would not disclose who sought it and nothing was filed in court as of today.

"It still needs to be served," said Travis Gullberg, sheriff's spokesman said Monday.

This comes as Richardson faces a state bar disciplinary proceeding that could put his license to practice law at risk. The bar's state professional responsibility board has recommended Richardson be tried before a disciplinary board for dishonesty, fraud and deceit.

The complaint to the bar alleges that he violated legal ethics by assisting a friend to defraud his elderly aunt. It says he helped Eric J. Penn obtain the power of attorney and title to Penn's elderly aunt's home just weeks after the aunt was admitted to a nursing home and declared mentally incompetent. The elderly woman's granddaughter, Alonda Patton, filed the complaint and also alleged that Richardson threatened her when she took legal action to block the home's sale.

The bar is also still trying to serve Richardson with the formal complaint.

Richardson could not be reached for comment today.

Last fall, the county sheriff's office denied Richardson's request to renew his concealed handgun license, calling him an "unsuitable applicant" because of his pattern of violence or threats of violence since 2002.